Improvement in drying grain and similar substances



UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

D. O. RAND AND M. VVADHAMS, OF PERINTON, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT- IN DRYING GRAIN AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,469, dated June 3,1862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, D. G. RAND and M.

' WADHAMS, both of Perintou, in the county of Monroe and State of NewYork, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Drying Grain,Gunpowder, and other Similar Substances; and we do hereby declare thatthe following is a full and exact description thereof, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, making partof this specification, inwhich- Figure 1 is'a side elevation of our apparatus. Fig. 2 is avertical section of the same.

Like letters indicate corresponding parts in both of the figures.

Our apparatus consists of a hollow cylinder provided with self openingand closing valves for the admission of air, hung upon a horizontalshaft and rotated thereon by the application of any convenient power forthe purpose.

A cask or barrel, A, as represented in the drawings, may be hung on acentral shaft, B, having journals which run in the bearings or standards0 G, and provided with apulley, D, for connecting with the driving-powerby a band, and is a very convenient form for the construction of ourapparatus. Any number of casks may be placed upon the same shaft, withbearings between each, or their length and size may be increased toobtain the required capacity, as may be found to best accommodate theconveniences of space or the purposes requi red. I

We provide one or more openings, 6 e, in the sides of the cylinder,having valves ff, similar to those known as flap-valves, attached ontheir inside, and so that their hinged side is foremost in relation tothe direction in which the cylinder rotates. These valves work'easily,and by their own weight fall when brought to the upper side by therevolution, leaving the aperture 0 partially open to admit air. Theyclose again, however, before the rotation places them below, so as toeffectually close the aperture and prevent the grain or other materialfrom escaping.

The material being placed within the cylinder through the valve which isuppermost at the time in quantity sufficient to cover the whole lowerpart of the vessel, yet not sufficient to prevent its free motion whilerevolving, the machinery is put in motion and kept up at a rate of speedbest adapted to render the process complete and expeditious, whichvaries somewhat with the weight and kind of material subjected to theoperation, and is easily determined by experiments. The effect is torapidly deprive it of its moisture, acting both by the heat generated bythe friction arising from a continual motion and by the free admissionof fresh air and its constantadmixture with the material, which isagitated and dispersed by the rotation of the cylinder. The materialacted upon has a tendency to follow up the interior of the cylinder inthe direction of its rotation, and in falling back from gravitationassists in closing the valve which is lowest at the time, and keeps itshut, thus preventing any waste or loss through the openings. 1

Great economy results from the use of this apparatus, from its smallcost originally and the little expense of running it, as well as thelimited space it occupies, as compared with the use of artificial heatas employed in kilns, furnaces, and by the application of steam, whileit possesses the important advantage of entirely overcoming the risk offire and explosions. In this sense its adaptation to the drying ofgunpowder and its use in grain-mills is important.

In manufacturing gunpowder it effects the glazing and drying at the sametime, thus saving the employment of two processes, while dispensing withfire as a drying agent. The ventilating effect may be increased byemploying a greater number of openings in the periphery, and by makingthe shaft B hollow to admit air through it which is discharged throughsuitable openings into the cylinder.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

The employment of a rotating cylinder for containing and keeping inmotion the material acted upon, provided with a valve or valves, ortheir equivalent, acting automatically for the admission of air forventilating the contents, substantially in the manner and for the D. G.RAND. M. WADHAMS.

Witnesses:

J. FRASER,

M. CANFIELD.

